How do avoid GUZZLING washer fluid

rebelfocus · 01-20-2006, 08:34 AM

So, it seems that if you have Xenons and like to spray your windscreen clean in the winter to remove grime, your washer fluid will not last very long. I have had to refill mine about once a week.

BUT I discovered a trick!!!

On long drives, I want to also clean my headlights so I spray as normal.

A lot of the time, I only want to clean the windscreen a little so here's what I do. Just pull the wiper control stalk towards you briefly for less than half a second. You will get a little spray on your windscreen. You may then need to activate a manual wipe by pressing down as the wipers may not automatically wipe it off. The headlights don't get sprayed so you don't waste all your washer fluid.

ThreeBimm · 01-20-2006, 10:17 AM

It has nothing to do with xenons. I don't have xenons and the same thing happens to me. The freakin' light washers are like going through a carwash. They get my whole car wet and use a ridiculous amount of the fluid. If I could I would disable them.

obLu · 01-20-2006, 10:46 AM

Or just turn your headlights off .... they only get sprayed if they're on or in the automatic position.

Chesmu · 01-20-2006, 11:33 AM

GENIUS!

Gantra · 01-20-2006, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obLu

Or just turn your headlights off .... they only get sprayed if they're on or in the automatic position.

Sweet. That's what i'll do.

Thanks for the tip!

xyz123 · 01-20-2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RINALDS

It has nothing to do with xenons. I don't have xenons and the same thing happens to me. The freakin' light washers are like going through a carwash. They get my whole car wet and use a ridiculous amount of the fluid. If I could I would disable them.

I seem to recall a post in this forum by someone who had disabled his headlight washers and gave a description of how he did it. A search might turn it up.

bavarian19 · 01-20-2006, 03:04 PM

Dont get the CWP here in the US. Get heated seats and fold downs (if you need them) and save the $75 or so by not getting the package.

Personally, I dont like the looks of the headlight washers, and they dont do much... not here in the US atleast....

obLu · 01-20-2006, 04:15 PM

Nope, completely frickin useless.

poldim · 01-20-2006, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bavarian19

Dont get the CWP here in the US. Get heated seats and fold downs (if you need them) and save the $75 or so by not getting the package.

Personally, I dont like the looks of the headlight washers, and they dont do much... not here in the US atleast....

Not entirely true. I thought about not getting the package and getting the two seperately when I was ordering, but decided to just get CWP and call it a day. If you are driving and just want to wash your windshield, there SHOULD be a way to disable them. It helps if you have ice over the headlights or if you are driving in sleet, its a good way of cleaning the films off.

Since there isnt, I do a mentioned in the post and hold for less than a second so that they arent activated. Do this two or three times and you got more than enough water to clean off most dirt.

I would not suggest turning off your Xenons if they are on. You might save yourself 5 bucks in washer fluid but premature HID burn out will set you back $217 from http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...18&hg=63&fg=05
They might never burn out, or they might burn out a day after your warranty expires. Its upto you...

ex-poster · 01-20-2006, 05:51 PM

I see that the 2 posters that say that the headlight washers are useless hail from parts of the country that may not see the huge salt usage in the winter that us up in the northern midwest do...

It is effective at getting that stuff off, and for that I'm happy. The salt can just cake on there and make the headlights next to useless.

LEDZEP · 01-20-2006, 07:09 PM

True about the salt. I had headlight washers on my Passat and while they were annoying at times, it was nice when I needed to get the grime and salt off the light housing. I don't think the ones on our E91 have ever come on yet. I also used to turn off the headlights before cleaning the windshield in "normal" conditions to avoid the spray.

01-20-2006, 08:34 AM	#1
rebelfocus Second Lieutenant 31 Rep 282 Posts Drives: 520d SE Touring Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Cork, Ireland iTrader: (0)	How do avoid GUZZLING washer fluid So, it seems that if you have Xenons and like to spray your windscreen clean in the winter to remove grime, your washer fluid will not last very long. I have had to refill mine about once a week. BUT I discovered a trick!!! On long drives, I want to also clean my headlights so I spray as normal. A lot of the time, I only want to clean the windscreen a little so here's what I do. Just pull the wiper control stalk towards you briefly for less than half a second. You will get a little spray on your windscreen. You may then need to activate a manual wipe by pressing down as the wipers may not automatically wipe it off. The headlights don't get sprayed so you don't waste all your washer fluid.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-20-2006, 10:17 AM	#2
ThreeBimm Private First Class 13 Rep 177 Posts Drives: 325 xi Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	It has nothing to do with xenons. I don't have xenons and the same thing happens to me. The freakin' light washers are like going through a carwash. They get my whole car wet and use a ridiculous amount of the fluid. If I could I would disable them.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2006, 10:46 AM	#3
obLu Major 50 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: 330i 6MT ZSP Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kirkland, WA, USA iTrader: (1)	Or just turn your headlights off .... they only get sprayed if they're on or in the automatic position.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2006, 11:33 AM	#4
Chesmu Brigadier General 89 Rep 3,011 Posts Drives: 2013 X6 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Phoenix,AZ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	GENIUS! __________________ "Teach the ignorant. Ignore the stupid."
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2006, 03:04 PM	#7
bavarian19 General 517 Rep 18,858 Posts Drives: Car Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: VA iTrader: (23)	Dont get the CWP here in the US. Get heated seats and fold downs (if you need them) and save the $75 or so by not getting the package. Personally, I dont like the looks of the headlight washers, and they dont do much... not here in the US atleast....
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2006, 04:15 PM	#8
obLu Major 50 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: 330i 6MT ZSP Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kirkland, WA, USA iTrader: (1)	Nope, completely frickin useless.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2006, 05:51 PM	#10
ex-poster Lieutenant 19 Rep 482 Posts Drives: 2000 328, 2006 330 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (0)	I see that the 2 posters that say that the headlight washers are useless hail from parts of the country that may not see the huge salt usage in the winter that us up in the northern midwest do... It is effective at getting that stuff off, and for that I'm happy. The salt can just cake on there and make the headlights next to useless.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2006, 07:09 PM	#11
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 417 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	True about the salt. I had headlight washers on my Passat and while they were annoying at times, it was nice when I needed to get the grime and salt off the light housing. I don't think the ones on our E91 have ever come on yet. I also used to turn off the headlights before cleaning the windshield in "normal" conditions to avoid the spray. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
	Appreciate 0 Quote